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Wolves could allow Ruben Neves to leave the club if a £50m offer is tabled this summer, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Neves exit likely

The future of the Portuguese midfield maestro has been a big talking point of late, with Barcelona among the clubs linked with snapping him up.

It feels as though Neves is more likely to leave Wolves than stay put, and the 25-year-old may simply feel that he has come as far as he can at Molineux.

Wanderers will only entertain big-money offers for the Premier League midfielder in order to use those funds on replacing him with a similarly top-class player.

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The Latest: Jones drops £50m Neves claim

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones provided an update on the matter, saying that a bid in the region of £40m to £50m for Neves could be accepted by Wolves, despite reports of a £70m price tag. He claimed:

“I think £70million is unrealistic for Ruben Neves and Wolves will know that, but I can see it settling out at £40million to £50million.

“Manchester United will definitely be in the conversation. They will be linked with him again.”

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The Verdict: Time to say goodbye?

The idea of Neves leaving Wolves is a depressing one – he has been lauded as an ‘amazing’ player by team-mate Jose Sa – but it is a scenario for which the Old Gold faithful should be prepared.

The lure of playing for a club of Barcelona’s size and stature is too great to turn down for many players and that could be no different for the 25-year-old, as he looks to play in the Champions League.

It is imperative that Wolves fill the void that Neves will leave once he goes, spending the money wisely on an adequate replacement. Wanderers-linked Joao Palhinha could be one such candidate to pick up wherever his fellow countryman leaves off.

In other news, a new player is now reportedly a Wolves transfer target. Find out who it is here.

A major Rangers decision has been made on Glasgow gem Glen Kamara ahead of the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, Ibrox sources have revealed that Ross Wilson is now set to field offers for the Finland international over the coming months.

The report claims that the two sides have come to an agreement which will see the 26-year-old leave the club ahead of next season if the right bid comes in.

He is under contract until 2025 and Football Insider claimed that his former club Arsenal attempted to sign him in the summer of 2021, but it remains to be seen who will be in for him this time around.

Van Bronckhorst will be infuriated

This update will surely leave Light Blues manager Gio van Bronckhorst infuriated, as he will no doubt want to keep his best players heading into next season.

The Gers will be competing in the Champions League later this year if they beat Eintracht Frankfurt in the final of the Europa League next week. This means that the club may be competing at the top level in Europe next term, so the Dutch head coach will surely want the best squad possible to avoid being outclassed by the best teams on the continent.

Kamara is one of the players that he will surely want to keep, as the 26-year-old has proven his quality across multiple competitions for Rangers this season.

In the Premiership, the Finland midfielder has played 31 times for the Gers and averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.01. He has completed an impressive 91% of his attempted passes in the top flight and created 1.3 chances per game, often being able to showcase his ability on the ball.

Kamara has the quality to recycle possession efficiently and rarely gifts the ball back to the opposition. This allows him to dictate the pace of matches and assert control of the game.

Meanwhile, he has played 13 times in the club’s extraordinary Europa League run, which shows that Van Bronckhorst has relied upon him in the competition. He put in a sensational display in the semi-final second leg against Leipzig, scoring one of the Gers’ three goals that night to secure a place in the final as he proved that he can step up for the big occasion.

Therefore, Van Bronckhorst will be fuming by the prospect of Kamara being sold ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and will be hoping that a move fails to materialise.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Kent: Van Bronckhorst can form scary Rangers duo by signing this gem “who never gives up”…

Wolves reportedly lead the race to sign Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer, having been linked with him in the recent past.

The Lowdown: Palhinha linked with move

Bruno Lage faces the potential blow of losing Ruben Neves at the end of the season, with the Portuguese maestro tipped to complete a move to Barcelona or another of Europe’s elite clubs.

One player who has been linked with arriving at Molineux instead is Palhinha, who has grown into an influential figure in Sporting’s midfield.

The 26-year-old has made 25 Primeira Liga appearances this season, as well as starting six Champions League matches before his side’s defeat to Manchester City.

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The Latest: Wolves in pole position

Now, a fresh update has emerged regarding Palhinha’s future, with Record [via Sport Witness] claiming that Wolves are the front-runners to sign him.

He is described as a ‘preferential target’ for Lage’s side and they are readying an offer for him, with Atletico Madrid also credited with showing interest.

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The Verdict: Strong midfield contender

Palhinha looks the ideal replacement for Neves in many ways, assuming the current Wolves hero moves onto pastures new at the end of the season.

At 26, he is at a good age to come in and provide immediate quality and experience, and he has enjoyed an 87.9% pass completion rate in the league this season, which is actually superior to Neves’ tally (83.8%).

Palhinha may feel he has outgrown the Primeira Liga and is ready to test himself in the Premier League and he and Wolves look a perfect fit, with their Portuguese core an added bonus.

In other news, one Wolves player has been linked with a summer exit. Find out who it is here.

Manchester United have submitted an offer for Barcelona’s 24-year-old French winger Ousmane Dembele.

What’s the word?

That is according to reports in Spain, via The Mirror, who claim that the Red Devils have offered the Blaugrana’s No.7 a contract worth €8.4m-€12.6m (£7m-£10.6m).

United have been able to approach the player directly, with his contract expiring this summer.

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With Xavi reported to reject the chance to sign Adama Traore permanently, it has been reported by Marca that the Barcelona coach will prioritise the re-signing of Dembele, who was signed for £135.5m.

A big risk

Since his move from Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, Dembele has not lived up to hype that arrived with his inflated transfer fee.

In what is now his fifth season for Barca, Dembele has managed to turn a corner under Xavi and has registered 11 assists in 18 appearances. The arrival of Traore, signed on loan, seemed to provide an element of competition that has seen the 24-year-old raise his game at Camp Nou.

Though, having been with the Catalan side since 2017, he may well fancy a change of scenery.

His form this season is enough to understand why Manchester United would be willing to take on his huge wages, with Ten Hag’s possession-based system suiting him nicely.

The £287k-per week player who has been dubbed a “phenomenon” by former teammate Lionel Messi, poses a constant threat up top and it is no wonder why he has achieved 11 assists in just 18 appearances in La Liga this season.

Barca president Joan Laporta has described the forward as “better than Mbappe”, and with a match average of 5.23 shot-creating actions, he is indeed better in this metric than the PSG star who registers an average of 4.64 shot-creating actions per 90.

Whilst Man United have not exactly struggled to create chances this season, there is still a lot of room for improvement compared to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City. United have created 64 big chances this season, whilst Liverpool have created 93.

Dembele’s threat in the opponent’s final third and penalty area would help to bridge the gap between the two sides, with his match average of 48.71 touches in the attacking third and average of 6.65 touches in the attacking penalty area much higher than the likes of Jadon Sancho who has started to find his feet at Old Trafford.

The wages of Dembele would present a risk, though a player of his potential who still has so much to give would appeal to Ten Hag and Rangnick.

In other news: Sources: Man Utd in pole position to sign £150m “revelation”, he’s the next Paul Ince

Eddie Howe didn’t rip things up ahead of Newcastle United’s crunch Premier League clash against Manchester City, but instead opted for smaller tweaks to arrest the slide in form that had cast an air of frustration across Tyneside.

Hope reigned across the November international break that the Toon would undergo a systematic reset, with three defeats from four leaving the club down in the bottom half. But Howe got it right, and Pep Guardiola was sent packing with none of the spoils.

With Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga, ostensibly the Magpies’ two most talented wide forwards, out of sorts, it was crucial that Howe saw some other attacking stars step up.

Newcastle's evolving frontline

When Newcastle sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a British record fee, it was a poignant moment. But Newcastle have evolved, and Nick Woltemade has proved by this stage his potential to be a star in the Premier League.

Theoretically, the 23-year-old German’s technical quality on the ball and his willingness to roam, dropping deep and aiding the pacy wingers either side of him, should give rise to Gordon and Elanga’s qualities, but it hasn’t happened yet.

Harvey Barnes is thriving, though. The prolific left winger scored twice to sink City, and that’s three in two Premier League matches for him.

Then, of course, Jacob Murphy continues to add flair and industriousness down the right flank. This is important, given Elanga’s own woes. Murphy, 30, worked so hard against his tide of the opposition, and he still managed to showcase his creativity, creating three chances and completing four of six attempted crosses, as per Sofascore.

We haven’t even mentioned Yoane Wissa, who was involved in Saturday’s celebrations but remains sidelined after joining from Brentford this summer. The DR Congo striker will add a new dimension to Howe’s frontline and offer a more traditional take than Woltemade, an interesting counterpoint.

These are all influential forwards, but it might be that Newcastle are developing another more influential member of their squad. This player offers shades of Erling Haaland, and yet he’s anything but a striker.

Newcastle's own version of Haaland

Haaland is one of the best players in the world, and, at Manchester City, his influence is unmatched.

Newcastle might not have anyone in their side who comes close to the Norwegian in terms of attacking output, but Malick Thiaw is beginning to single-handedly define his side’s defensive strength, and in this, he could curiously become United’s own version of the free-scoring machine.

Newcastle completed a £35m move for Thiaw in August, reinforcing a backline that was crying out for some extra depth last season.

Hailed as an “absolute steal” of a signing by one United content creator, who lauded Thiaw’s “Saliba-esque” presence in central defence, this is a defender who has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, and this was underscored and then some upon keeping Haaland at bay on Saturday.

Haaland failed to score, but his physicality and the scare factor that comes into play when he’s involved were both negated by the Germany international, whose willingness to go one-on-one and engage with crisp and combative challenges emphasise the level of player Newcastle have reeled in. One podcast host actually marvelled at the display and said, “he might be the Premier League’s next elite centre-back.”

Mentality is just as important as technical mastery, and luckily, the £75k-per-week Thiaw offers both elements in bucketloads.

Sofascore record that he made seven clearances and six ball recoveries against City, timing a last-man challenge just right.

Moreover, Thiaw is already sitting pretty across some intriguing statistical metrics. In the Premier League this season, for example, the 24-year-old ranks among the top 15% of centre-backs for interceptions, the top 13% for blocks, the top 9% for ball recoveries, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 9% for progressive carries per 90 (data provided by FBref).

Couple that with his remarkable success rate in the duel, both in the Premier League and out on the continent this season, and you begin to see why so many Newcastle supporters are boarding the hype train at this early stage of his English career.

Matches (starts)

9 (8)

4 (3)

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Touches*

52.7

57.0

Accurate passes*

35.1 (86%)

43.8 (91%)

Recoveries*

4.1

4.8

Tackles + interceptions*

2.4

1.8

Clearances*

5.0

3.3

Ground duels*

1.4 (68%)

1.5 (55%)

Aerial duels*

3.1 (72%)

3.3 (76%)

Errors made

0

0

Error-free, confident on the ball and commanding in defensive phases, Thiaw is a “monster” of a centre-half, in the words of journalist Martino Puccio, and he’s only going to keep getting better as he settles into his role on Tyneside.

Given the current struggles of Sven Botman – who started from the bench at St. James’ Park at the weekend – and the ageing legs of Dan Burn and Fabian Schar – Newcastle’s new central defender may well far outstrip his positional competition and enter a league of his own.

In this way, he could emulate Haaland’s own matchless presence at the Etihad Stadium and establish himself as a one-of-a-kind talent on Tyneside, becoming not just one of the best players in Newcastle’s first team but a figure to be feared across the entire continent, just as Haaland is right now.

PIF can fund Anderson move by selling Newcastle star who's a "nightmare"

Newcastle are proving themselves to be a team in transition this season.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 25, 2025

With time running out at Ibrox for Russell Martin, Glasgow Rangers are now reportedly targeting a move to hire a former La Liga coach who they previously had contact with.

Managers that could replace Martin at Rangers

He’s had just five games in the Scottish Premiership, but Ibrox has already seen enough of Martin. Boos echoed around Ibrox when he emerged from the dressing room for the second-half last weekend and those boos only increased when Rangers were condemned to their first home defeat against Hearts since 2014.

With the writing on the wall for the former Southampton boss, the focus has instantly turned towards the candidates that could arrive to replace Martin in Scotland.

On that front, one name already mentioned has been Steven Gerrard. The last manager to win the Scottish Premiership with the Gers, having dethroned Celtic in 2020/21, Gerrard certainly knows what it takes to bring success to Rangers. Whether fans are ready to forgive him for moving to Aston Villa midway through the 2021/22 campaign is another question, however.

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Meanwhile, a move for Jose Mourinho can now be ruled out. The former Chelsea boss has moved back to Portugal to become the new Benfica manager. It goes without saying, though, that affording his wages would have been a tough task for Rangers.

So the question as to just who could replace Martin remains unanswered. With Mourinho ruled out and Gerrard perhaps a choice that will split opinion, the Gers could turn their focus towards a former La Liga coach.

Rangers eyeing summer target Davide Ancelotti

As reported by The Daily Record, Rangers are once again eyeing a move for Davide Ancelotti to replace Martin. The former Real Madrid assistant coach has found himself back on the Gers’ radar after hitting a difficult spell at Botafogo, which could yet end in his dismissal. If that does prove to be the case, then he could be available just in time for Rangers to swoop in.

Ancelotti should be someone that the 49ers are already very familiar with. It was reportedly between the Spaniard and Martin for the job in the summer, with contact made with both, before the Gers ultimately made a choice that they’ve come to regret.

That said, hiring Ancelotti would also come with its risks. In his first managerial job, Carlo Ancelotti’s son has ultimately struggled after initially getting off to a solid start. Questions would rightly be asked if Rangers hired a manager who has won two of his last eight games at his current club.

Whether it’s Gerrard, Ancelotti or another option, Rangers’ next potential manager cannot afford to get off to a poor start. Those at Ibrox already sit 10th and in an increasingly concerning position.

Aston Villa struggled to recruit efficiently during the summer amid PSR concerns, though they could now be about to make a controversial move for a star who is at Monchi’s former club.

Aston Villa move on after goalless stalemate with Everton

Four Premier League matches have passed this season and Aston Villa are yet to score a goal, which is something Unai Emery will be desperate to see change over their coming run of fixtures.

Stagnation is a trap that can be hard to evade, and even with the Villans’ late deals to sign Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliot adding some impetus, it is quite clear the Villans are a mile off where they need to be from an offensive standpoint.

Echoing these sentiments, Emery claimed in his post-match press conference that more needs to be done for his side to start regularly putting themselves on the scoresheet.

He told Match of the Day: “Tactically we have to try to help offensively to try to get better positions. Offensively we need more. We need to try to help out strikers, wingers and midfielders, but I’m happy because we competed and this is the first step forward. We are going to work and we know inside the problem we have.”

With a quick turnaround leading his side into their EFL Cup Third Round tie away to Brentford on Tuesday evening, pressure is growing as the Villans look to secure their first victory of the campaign in London.

Clearly, Ollie Watkins could use some help as the focal point in attack, and Aston Villa are reportedly planning to sign Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta if they can fend off competition from elsewhere.

January is a notoriously difficult window to push deals over the line, but Monchi may have a crucial part to play in helping the Villans secure another target from his former club.

Aston Villa eyeing controversial move for Rubén Vargas

According to reports in Spain, Aston Villa are looking to make a controversial move for Sevilla winger Ruben Vargas, who plies his trade at Monchi’s former club.

In a swoop that could spark feelings of “betrayal” from the La Liga outfit, there is a realisation from his current employers that the Villans could put up an offer that may be too good to refuse from a financial perspective.

Emery can unleash his own Grealish in “outrageous" £35m Aston Villa star

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Deemed as a similar player to Anthony Elanga, per FBRef, the Switzerland international has made an impressive start to the campaign with three assists in as many appearances across all competitions.

Capable of playing on the right flank or as an attacking midfielder, Vargas has also created five chances and delivered four successful crosses in the Spanish top-flight, via Fotmob, coming under the microscope as a player who could help Aston Villa’s mission to create more in the final third.

For now, Emery’s men appear to be leading the race for his signature, though it remains to be seen whether they can force a deal over the line in January.

Leeds United have had some brilliant academy products down the years, but one youngster they’ve had on their books has not reached his potential after being likened to Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney at youth level.

Leeds’ best ever academy products

The Whites have been responsible for producing a number of well-known Premier League players over the last 30 years from their famous academy. Some, as a result of the club’s well-documented financial problems in the early 2000’s, made their name known at first team level elsewhere.

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ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025

Meanwhile, others have impressed at Elland Road before being snapped up in the transfer market, the latest being Archie Gray, who joined Tottenham in 2024 in a deal thought to be worth £40m.

Leeds’ best academy products in pictures

Right now, Leeds have Archie’s younger brother, Harry Gray, coming through the ranks, and he actually made his first-team debut at the age of 16 years, 6 months, and 13 days.

1

Peter Lorimer

15 years, 9 months and 19 days

2

Tom Elliott

16 years, 2 months and 25 days

3

Aaron Lennon

16 years, 4 months and 7 days

4

Harry Gray

16 years, 6 months, and 13 days

5

James Milner

16 years, 10 months and 6 days

6

Neil Aspin

16 years, 10 months and 8 days

7

Aidy White

16 years, 10 months and 16 days

8

Simon Walton

16 years, 10 months and 25 days

9

Jimmy Greenhoff

16 years, 10 months and 26 days

10

Ryan Edmondson

16 years, 11 months and 16 days

Those in Yorkshire will be hoping they can keep hold of the forward, who is already being likened to Michael Owen and Harry Kane, but one attacker who hasn’t lived up to the hype has been Joe Gelhardt.

Leeds talent set to be sold after Gerrard and Rooney comparisons

Many expected big things when Leeds swooped to sign Gelhardt from Wigan Athletic in 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa following the club’s promotion to the Premier League. A deal for the exciting teenager cost the Whites just £1m, and he would progress into the first team, making his top flight debut in 2021.

The attacker has gone on to score just three goals for the Whites, one of which being a stoppage-time winner against Norwich City, while he also produced a piece of brilliant skill which helped keep Leeds in the Premier League in 2022.

However, Gelhardt has struggled for consistency and has been sent out on loan to Sunderland and Hull City, and now looks set to be sold on a permanent basis in 2025 if a club comes in with an offer in the region of £3m-£4m.

Long-time Merseyside Boys’ manager Tim Wyatt even said that Gelhardt caught the eye just as much as Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney did when they were all 14 years of age.

Wigan’s former head of academy and now sporting director Gregor Rioch was also full of praise for Gelhardt while he was at the Latics, saying he “had the X-factor”.

It’s a case of what could have been for Gelhardt at Elland Road, and still just 23 years of age, he’ll be looking to get his career back on track elsewhere.

In what could see them continue their early flurry of potential arrivals, Liverpool and Michael Edwards have now reportedly made preliminary contact to sign a Serie A contract rebel ahead of Barcelona.

Liverpool close in on Kerkez, Frimpong and Wirtz

After Liverpool won the Premier League in the 2019/20 campaign, they failed to take advantage of their status as champions and endured a fairly disappointing transfer window. As a result of that and, of course, a major injury crisis, Jurgen Klopp’s side struggled in the season that followed and were forced to battle all the way in the race to secure a Champions League place.

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Fast-forward five years, and it looks as though the Reds have learned from that harsh lesson. With Arne Slot in the hot seat these days and Michael Edwards alongside sporting director Richard Hughes behind him, those at Anfield are seemingly in the mood to keep hold of their crown this time around.

Not even a week on from the conclusion of the Premier League campaign, those at Anfield have set their sights on an impressive triple swoop. All three are fairly open secrets too, with Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong all on Liverpool’s radar. The latter has even reportedly flown in to complete his move, whilst the champions are pushing to seal deals to sign Wirtz and Bournemouth’s Kerkez in the coming weeks.

What should frighten the rest of the Premier League are the reports indicating that Liverpool will still not be done there, with their focus now seemingly shifting towards signing a Serie A star.

Liverpool make preliminary contact to sign £52m Ederson

According to CalcioMercato, as relayed by Tutto Atalanta, Edwards and Liverpool have now made preliminary contact over a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta this summer. The impressive Brazilian is yet to sign a new deal at the Italian club and ‘does not seem to be willing to renew his contract’.

Therefore, Ederson is set to become a free agent next summer as things stand. With that being the case, a move could certainly be possible in the coming months, with Barcelona, Newcastle and Man Utd also named with an interest in Ederson in the report.

A move for the midfielder would be another important one for Slot’s side too. As good as Ryan Gravenberch was throughout the season, there were times that he did drop off and needed a rest. That’s where a player of Ederson’s calibre could have seamlessly slotted in.

Minutes

2,881

3,160

Progressive Passes

216

181

Tackles Won

32

35

Ball Recoveries

186

193

A player who can keep up with Gravenberch out of possession whilst progressing play in similar fashion to Alexis Mac Allister, Ederson would provide Slot with the perfect added option in the middle of the park.

Dubbed “strong” by South American football expert Tim Vickery, Ederson, who has recently been valued at £52m by Atalanta, could be one to watch as he continues to stall on a new contract at Atalanta.

With Pep Guardiola personally pushing for his signature, one Manchester City target now reportedly has representatives in Manchester to discuss a deal to sign for the Citizens.

Kevin De Bruyne preparing for ultimate farewell

Whilst Manchester City do have one eye on the summer transfer window, they must first bid farewell to one of their greatest ever players in Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian is set to depart as a free agent after winning everything there is to win at The Etihad and earning his place as one of the best to ever do in the Premier League, not just at Manchester City.

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He won’t want to bow out without a trophy, however. As one last trip to Wembley awaits in City’s sky blue, De Bruyne has the opportunity to enjoy one last moment of magic and take his side to victory against Crystal Palace. All of a sudden, from what looked like a season destined to end in disaster, City could yet finish as high as second and win silverware along the way.

Following the FA Cup final, De Bruyne will have just two games left in a City shirt with his final game at The Etihad coming against Bournemouth just three days after a trip to Wembley.

These aren’t meaningless games for Guardiola’s side, either. They’re must-win affairs if they want to secure their place in the Champions League ahead of next season. The last thing the Manchester club needs is to lose the FA Cup final before crashing out of the top five in a disastrous final couple of weeks.

By securing Champions League football, the Citizens – like others around them – would be in a far stronger position to attract their top target and perhaps pull off quite the hijack.

Wirtz's representatives travel for talks

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Florian Wirtz’s family are now in Manchester to hold talks with Manchester City over a move to The Etihad this summer. Whilst it’s been Bayern Munich in the driving seat for much of the transfer saga, it doesn’t look like City are willing to give up anytime soon and could use Bayer Leverkusen’s reluctance to sell to a rival to jump ahead of the queue.

With Guardiola personally pushing to sign his De Bruyne replacement, Manchester City will be desperate to beat Bayern to a player described as “incredible” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig earlier this season.

Indeed, Wirtz will be one of the most interesting players to watch this summer, having been praised as “probably the best midfielder in the world” by former striker Patrick Helmes, who believes he could one day end up at Real Madrid.